Winding apparatus



March 9, 1943. w. BRIDGES I WINDING APPARATUS 4 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1941 March 9, 1943. w B'RHJGES WINDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Walter March 9, 1943. w. BRIDGES. 2,313,618

WINDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 By I flrro E141 March 9, 1943. ,WgB mG'E 1 2,313,618 WINDING APPARATUS v Filed Sept. 15, 1941 4 Sheets-SheefA v F/G. 5. 47 g,

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Walter BridQes,

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 WINDING APPARATUS Walter Bridges, Chelsea, London, England Application September 15, 1941, Serial No. 410,934 In Great Britain April 7, 1941 9 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in and applicable to winding apparatus and has amongst its objects to provide new or improved means for tensioning a filament and for wrapping a wire or wires around a tube or cylinder. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with the production of cylinders having a wire reinforcement of the type described and claimed in the specification of my concurrent U. S. application No. 378,479. An object of the invention is to wrap the filament around the tube or cylinder evenly and uniformly under a substantially constant tension.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the provision of filament tensioning apparatus comprising a filament supply, a weight functioning to apply tension to the filament, a brake opposing said weight and means for automatically adjusting the effort of said brake to maintain the filament tension substantially constant.

Viewed from another aspect the invention consists in the provision of apparatus for winding a filament on to a body comprising means for mounting and rotating the body, a filament supply, means for guiding the filament from the supply to the body, means for imparting relative traverse between filament and body in the direction of the body axis and means for maintaining substantially constant the tension of the filament being wound.

In one method of carrying the invention into effect the wire or filament in its passage fromvthe source of supply to the body passes over or around a brake drum and supports a weight carried by a movable member which functions on variation in the filament tension to adjust the braking effort exerted by the drum and so maintain such tension substantially constant. I

In the application of .the invention to the reinforcing of cylinders in accordance with concurrent U. S. application No. 378,479 a further feature of the invention consists in the provision of means for exactly determining the position of the reinforcement in relation to the cylinder.

The foregoing and other subsidiary features of the invention that are set out in the appendant claims are embodied in the example new to be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmental end sectional view of one type of apparatus in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental part-sectional plan View of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure l or front view of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the filament tensioning mechanis' m.

Figure 5 is a plan view thereon and Figure 6 is a detail view.

In carrying the invention into effect the cylin der 1 is mounted for rotation in any desired manher, but it has been found convenient ,to utilise a lathe which may be of any known or approved type. In the drawings the lathe bed is indicated at I, the saddle at 2, a tool rest at 3, a lathe face plate at 4 and the tailstock at 5. The lathe lead screw is indicated at 5. The cylinder 7 to be reinforced is provided with rounded ends, the one end being formed with a fillin neck 8. One end of the cylinder 1 is received in a cylindrical chuck 9 removably mounted on the face plate t in such a manner that a part of the hemispherical end of the cylinder contacts with a corresponding hemispherical internal surface 9a of the chuck 9. The other end of the cylinder is similarly received in a chuck H which is removably mounted on a stepped sleeve i la and by virtue of a ball race 12 is freely rotatable on a spindle l3 projecting from the tailstock 5. I

From the foregoing it will be seen that it is only necessary to adjust the face plate 4 and'tailstock 5' towards each other in the usual manner to enforce a wedge-like connection between the chucks 9-, I l and the cylinder 1 whereby subsequent rotation of the face plate 4 is imparted to the cylinder 7.

Each chuck 9 and fl ls recesed toaccommodate spacing rings and lie respectively and it is between the inner ends of these rings that the reinforcement is wound on to the cylinder; consequently the members 90 and lie function as jigs and by using members of different length the location and/or extent of the reinforcement can readily be determined. The lathe saddle 2 is provided with a downwardly extending portion 14 substantially of triangular configuration which is located between the rails of the lathe bedi and on to the rear face of such portion, that is to say the face further removed from the lathe face plate, is bolted a vertically upstanding plate 15' provided with a rearwardly extending web it, which web is itself secured by bolt H to the upper face of the saddle. Located at or near the upper part of the plate 15 is a horizontal spindle l8 and coaxial with such spindle is a sleeve I9 (best shown in Fig. 4') formed at its end nearest the plate with a flange 2D" and at its opposite end with a screw-threaded reduced neck 2 6. Between the flange 20 and the plate there is positioned a washer 22, preferably of fibre, and a spacing member 23, and after the members 22 and have been assembled on the spindle l8 a flanged spool 24 on to which a length of wire 25 has previously been wound, is slipped on to the sleeve [9. The efiective bore of the spool is increased by a short tubular extension 26 on each side and after the spool has been slipped on to the sleeve it is locked in position by a screwed collar 2! screwed to the screw-threaded neck 2|. This collar and the flange 20 are both preferably formed with inclined faces 27' so that when the collar is screwed home the extensions 26 are securely gripped. The spindle I8 is fixed to the plate I 5 by means of the nut 28 and the enlarged part 29 which bears against the spacing member 23. On its opposite extremity beyond the sleeve 21 the bolt is reduced in diameter and a thrust race 30 is provided and beyond such thrust race a spring 3| is assembled between the one end of the thrust race and a washer 32 and such washer is moved inwardly to compress: the spring by nut 33. It thus follows, the parts being assembled as stated, that by adjusting the tension of the spring one can readily adjust the degree of resistance offered to the rotation of the spool 24 by the fiber washer 22 and consequently the tension which must necessarily be imparted to the wire 25 to drag it off such spool. Immediately after leaving the spool 24 the wire 25 is wrapped around a brake drum 34 mounted upon a horizontal spintile 35.

This drum is flanged as shown and between the flanges there is accommodated a brake band 35 and beyond one of the flanges a groove 31 is formed within which the wire 25 is accommodated. The spindle 35 is housed in a block 38 and it is on that part of the spindle projecting forwardly from the block that the drum 34 is mounted. The block 33 is conveniently welded to a bracket 39 bolted to the plate l5. After passing around the drum 34 the wire passes to a jockey pulley 40 thence to an idle pulley 4| from which latter pulley it is fed to the cylinder 7. Pulley 4| is mounted to rotate about a spindle 42 accommodated within and extending from a block 43 welded to bracket 44 which is bolted to the plate 15. The pulley 40 is mounted to rotate about a spindle 43 supported at one end of two parallel arms 41 pivoted at their rear extremity about a pin 48 journalled within bracket 49 which is bolted to the plate I5, spacing washers 50 (Fig. 5) being provided on the pin 48 between the arms 41. A U-shaped member 45 is carried by the spindle 46 and weight 5| is suspended from the yoke thereof by means of a pin 52. The brake band 36 is fixed at one end to a pin 53 (Figs. 1 and 6) fixed in an arm 54 and at the other end is anchored to a bolt 55 which transfixes said arm and a U-shaped bracket 56 carried by an angle iron 57 welded to a part of the bracket 33. It will thus be seen that the upper part of the arm 54 is located between the arms of the U-shaped bracket 55 and is free to oscillate about the bolt 55. The arm projects downwardly and near its lower end one face of the arm contacts with a pin 58 projecting from one of the arms 47. Intermediate the length of the arm 54 is positioned a U-shaped bracket 59 bolted to the plate 15 so that the arm passes between the cheeks of such bracket and a spring 80 is compressed between the arm 54 and an adjustable bolt 6 i received in a screw-threaded hole ,7;

in the yoke of the bracket 59. It will thus be seen that the weight 5| supported by the wire 25 passing under the jockey pulley 40 and normally when at rest the arms 41 assume a horizontal position and that face of the arm 54 contacting with the pin 58 is inclined to the vertical in such a sense that if the arms 4'! pivot downwardly about the pivot 48 the arm 54 is urged inwardly by the spring 60 and in rotating about its pivot 55 moves the pin 53 (members 55 and 53 when the apparatus is at rest being normally in a horizontal line) further from the drum 34 and thereby tightens the brake band 36 and increases the braking eifort exerted by such drum and in consequence increases the tension in the wire 25. The method of operation therefore is as follows: The parts being assembled as stated a length of wire 25 is withdrawn from the bobbin 24, wrapped around the groove 31 of the brake drum 34, thence passed under the jockey pulley 40, over the idle pulley 4| and the free end is now anchored on the cylinder 1; consequently upon rotating the cylinder the wire is dragged off the bobbin 24, the resistance to rotation of the bobbin 24 or, in other words, the drag action, being adjustable by actuation of the nut 33 in the manner previously described. By this means over-running of the bobbin 24 during the process of winding the wire on to the cylinder is avoided. The braking effort exerted by the brake drum 34 is adjusted to support the weight 5i so that in equilibrium the arms 47 are horizontal and the required tension is imparted to the wire 25 during the process of being wound on to the cylinder 1. If now for any reason the tension decreases the weight 5| will fall and, as previously explained, the arm 54 will be free to move about its pivot 58 and the braking effort exerted by the brake band 36 will then be increased until equilibrium is restored. If on the other hand the tension in the wire is increased, the weight 51 will be raised and the pin 58 will rock the arm 54 in the opposite direction to decrease the braking effort exerted by the band 36 until equilibrium is again restored. In this manner the tension of the wire being Wound remains substantially constant and if during the winding operation it is found that there is undue movement of the weight 5| adjustment can be effected by means of the bolt 6|. The method of anchoringthe wiretothe cylinder on the commencement of the winding operation is preferably that described in the specification of my concurrent application No. 378,479 there being provided two metal rings 62 and 63 encircling the cylinder and in contact with the inner ends of the spacing rings 90 and I I0 respectively whereby they are positioned at each end of that portion .of the cylinder to be reinforced. It will be assumed that the winding operation is commenced at ring 52, proceeds to ring 63 and thereafter a second layer is wound over the first layer from ring 63 to 62 to-complete the reinforcement. Ring 63- is of angle section as shown and ring 62 is aplain:r ing having at least two upstanding lugs, the one 65 functioning to anchor the wire atthe commencement of the winding operation and the lug 65a, functioning to anchor the wire at the termination of the winding operation. To assist in guiding the wire during the winding operation and to ensure that the successive coils thereof shall be -in contact with one another a guiding roller 65 is preferably provided. This guiding roller is mounted to rotate about a pin 5'! journalled in arms 68 situated immediately on each side of the roller and carried by the lathe tool rest 3, the said arms being fixed to said tool rest and passing under and partly around the cylinder 1 so that the line of contact of the roller 66 with the cylinder 1 is on that side of the cylinder opposite to that at which the wire 25 meets the cylinder in its passage from the idle pulley 4| and the position at which the wire meets the cylinder is substantially the same height above the cylinder axis and the same distance removed from the vertical plane containing such axis (the axis being horizontal) as is the line of contact between the cylinder and the roller 66. The end of the wire being anchored to the lug 65 in the manner stated, the cylinder is rotated in normal manner and the lathe saddle is traversed by the lead screw 6 to cause the wire to be wound in close helix formation around the cylinder. Immediately before completing the first winding, that is immediately prior to the roller 66 contacting with the angle member 63 the tool rest is advanced by the hand screw 69 so that the roller is moved away from and rides over the upstanding flange of member 63 and the wire is wound on to that flange of member 63 lying on the cylinder so that the last coil of the first layer contacts with the upstanding flange of the member 63. The machine is now brought to rest and the tool rest is racked towards the face plate by means of the hand wheel 10 so that roller 66 is again on the leading side of the wire and by means of the hand wheel 69 the roller is brought into contact with the layer of wire which has just been laid. The direction of the traverse of the saddle is now reversed and the second layer of wire is now wound over the first layer, the roller 66 again functioning as a guide roller to ensure that the successive layers lie in close contact with one another. When the second layer has been wound in this manner the roller can be moved away from the cylinder by operating the hand wheel 69 and the end of the wire is now anchored by means of the lug 65a. The winding operation is now completed and the cylinder is removed from the lathe and the wire reinforcement is preferably soldered in the manner described in the specification of my concurrent application as aforesaid.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing embodiment has been described merely by way of example and the invention may be applied to the wrapping of cylinders and other bodies with filaments of different types. In particular, the invention is very efficacious in the application of a reinforcement to a gas cylinder which is liable to be subjected to enemy action and for this purpose such cylinder is wrapped in accordance with the invention preferably with high tensile wire of the type known in the trade as piano wire.

It will be appreciated that there is, under certain circumstances, a grave risk of gas cylinders being punctured or fractured by projectiles, bomb splinters and shrapnel. The ends of the cylinders are more resistant to puncture or fracture than is the central portion of the cylinder and it is for this reason that in the embodiment illustrated and described the wire reinforcement is confined to this particular part of the cylinder. The wire reinforcement offers substantial resistance to penetration by bomb splinters, shrapnel and the like and by virtue of the fact that the individual coils of wire are bound together such as by being soldered it will be appreciated that even if one or more of the coils is broken the wire will not unwind of its own volition.

In the application of the invention to the reinforcement of gas cylinders for this purpose the use of high tensile wire such as piano wire is essential and the diificulties of winding such wire evenly under a substantial degree of tension will be appreciated by all persons skilled in the art, and the present invention afiords means whereby satisfactory reinforcement of this type can be obtained efiicaciously and expeditiously.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for winding a filament on to a body, comprising a spool, a length of filament wound thereon, said spool mounted on a spindle, means for retarding the rotation of the spool to produce a drag action, a brake drum around which the filament is wound in its passage from the spool to the body to be wound, a jockey pulley from which is suspended a weight, said filament passing under the pulley in its passage from the drum to the body, said pulley carried by a pivoted arm, a second pivoted arm to part of which one end of the band of the brake drum is anchored, said second arm contacting with a part on the first arm, an adjustable spring for urging the second arm into contact with the first arm'so that if the filament tension varies the second arm is actuated to vary the braking effort exerted by the band to restore equilibrium and maintain the filament tension substantially constant, means for rotating the body and means for imparting relative traverse between filament and body in the direction of the body axis.

2. Apparatus for winding a filament on to a body, comprising a lathe having a saddle and tool rest, the cylinder to be wound mounted to rotate with the lathe face plate, jigs masking each end of the cylinder, means for traversing the saddle and tool rest, a plate secured to and projecting from said saddle, a filament supply and a brake drum mounted on said plate, the filament in its passage from the supply to the body passing over said brake drum and under a jockey pulley, a weight carried by said pulley, said pulley carried by a pivoted arm, a second pivoted arm coacting therewith, one end of the band of the brake drum anchored to said arm and the parts being so arranged that variation in the filament tension results in the first arm moving about its pivot to actuate the second arm, which latter arm adjusts the braking effort exerted by the band to restore equilibrium and maintain the filament tension substantially constant, means for guiding the filament to the body, a guide roller mounted in arms carried by the tool rest, said guide roller contacting with the body immediately in advance of the filament as wound and means for manually actuating the tool rest to move said roller in the direction of the body axis and at right angles thereto.

3. In apparatus for winding a filament from a supply thereof onto a rotatable body, means for controlling the tension on said filament comprising a brake drum rotatable by the filament in its passage from the supply to the body; a brake member engageable with said drum; a brake lever connected to said member for actuating the same; a biased arm for moving the brake lever, supportable by a bight of the filament in its passage from the brake drum to the body; and a connection between said arm and lever whereby rising and falling movements of the filament supported arm resulting from variations in the tension on the filament respectively decrease and increase the braking effort exerted by the brake member on the drum.

4. In apparatus for winding a filament from a supply thereof onto a rotatable body, of the kind wherein the filament in its passage from the supply to the body supports a pulley which is adapted to rise and fall as the filament tension varies and to thereby vary a braking effort applied to the running filament, the combination of a brake drum rotatable by the filament in its passage from the supply to the pulley; a brake member for applying a braking effort to said drum; a lever for moving said member to vary the braking effort; a pivoted arm supporting the pulley for rising and falling movements; and a connection between said arm and lever, whereby movement of the arm moves the lever.

5. In apparatus according to claim 3, a mounting for rotatably supporting the supply of filament; a spring-loaded friction brake for retarding the rotation of the filament supply; and means for adjusting the spring loading to vary the effort exerted by the last mentioned brake.

6. In apparatus for winding a filament drawn from a supply thereof onto a rotating body, comprising a bed, a saddle mounted for reciprocation thereon, and means for mounting the body for rotation about an axis parallel to the line of reciprocation, means carried by the saddle for maintaining the filament under substantially constant tension during winding, comprising a brake drum mounted for engagement and rotation by the filament in its passage from the supply to the body; a brake member engageable with the drum; a pulley engageable by the filament in its passage from the drum to the body, and mounted for displacement according to variations in the filament tension; and means actuated by the pulley displacement to vary the braking effort exerted by said brake member upon the drum to counteract said variations in filament tension.

'7. Apparatus for winding a filament drawn from a supply thereof onto a rotating body and for maintaining the filament tension substantially constant during winding, comprising a bed; a saddle mounted thereon for rectilinear traverse; means for traversing said saddle; a rest mounted on the saddle for adjustment laterally of the line of traverse; means for effecting said adjustment; means for mounting thebody for rotation about an axis parallel to the line of traverse; a guide roller for the filament carried by the rest for engagement with the periphery of the body in the region whereat the filament runs onto it; and filament tensioning means carried by the saddle, comprising a rotatable drum disposed for encirclement by the filament on its way from the supply to the body, a brake member engageable with said drum, a pulley mounted for displacement to and fro, engageable by the filament in its passage from the drum to the body and displaceable in response to variations in filament tension, means biasing the pulley in one direction of its displacement, and connections between said pulley and the brake member for varying the braking effort in accordance with pulley displacement to counteract the tension variation.

8. In apparatus for winding a filament from a supply thereof onto a rotatable body, means for controlling the tension on said filament, comprising a brake member rotatable by the filament in its passage from the supply to the body; a brake for applying a variable braking efiort to the rotation of said member; a second member supported for rising and falling movements by a bight of the filament in its passage from the brake member to the body to be wound, whereby the position of said second member varies in accordance with variation in the size of the bight consequent upon variation in filament tension; and a connection between said second member and the brake for adjusting the latter as the second member rises and falls, to vary the braking effort and counteract said tension variations.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a bed; a saddle mounted thereon for traverse, and carrying the aforesaid brake member, brake, second member and connection; saddle-traversing means; means on the bed for mounting the body for rotation about an axis parallel to the line of traverse; a rest mounted on the saddle for adjustment laterally of the line of traverse towards and away from the axis of rotation; means for effecting said rest adjustment; and a guide roller carried by the rest for engagement with the body periphery in the region whereat the filament runs onto it.

WALTER BRIDGES. 

